Developing an Android App? LG Will Loan You a G2

Manufacturers know that in order to differentiate themselves from other manufacturers, they need device specific software to attract a potential customer – the main reason we have TouchWiz, Motoblur, Sense, and Optimus UI, otherwise the screens would all look like stock Android (and there is nothing wrong with that). However, beyond the “skin” the manufacturer uses, they like to have applications that are specific to their device – like KnockOn, S-Note, Q-Slide, etc. If a potential customer reads about some cool features, it could push them to buy your device.

That is exactly why Samsung held a Developer’s Conference in October, to find ways that Samsung and Developers can work together to mutually benefit each other…LG also realizes the importance of device specific applications as well, and held their own LG Android Developer’s VIP event in San Francisco where they debuted their new LG QRemote SDK. According to LG, this new SDK:

Contains the library, documentation and sample codes that enable developers to create their QuickRemote apps to control multiple electronic devices such as TVs, cable set-top-boxes and audio systems, and even air conditioners. This SDK provides developers with open apps necessary to develop IR (infrared) remote sensor-enabled applications.
Developers can create the customized IR remote control apps for certain groups of people such as children or seniors and also add a macro button that enables both TV and cable set-top-box to power on with just one click.

To make this even a more interesting proposition, LG will lend the Developer an LG G2 device for a month to test out their application and at the end of a month, you simply return the LG G2 back to LG. The LG G2 is available to all major U.S. carriers, so many users can benefit from the applications being developed. LG said that:

By providing the Android developer community with a new SDK and the latest LG devices to test their apps on, we’re living up to our brand promise, ‘with LG, it’s all possible. We’re giving them the tools to help inspire some great new apps â€” ones we expect to see on the LG App Store very soon.

The new LG Device Loaner Program for Android developers is a simple three-step process:

What a great idea by LG to further aid in the development of applications for its devices. Let us know in the comments or on Google+ what you think of this new, innovated type of thinking on LG’s part.